NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones & Drew Franklin

Episode: Super Bowl is Set & Coaches Getting Hired
Date: January 26, 2026
Podcast: NFL Cover Zero – iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

In this episode, Matt Jones and Drew Franklin, stuck indoors thanks to icy winter weather in Kentucky, review the NFL Championship games that set the Super Bowl matchup: the New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks. They sift through lackluster game performances, debate the energy and narrative value of this Super Bowl, criticize playoff coaching decisions, unpack new NFL coaching hires, and riff on Super Bowl halftime acts. The conversation flows in their trademark relaxed, humorous style, with lots of give-and-take and football banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Winter Weather & Game Watching Conditions

• Opening banter about snow and ice across Kentucky and the South.
  • Matt and Drew complain about their "underwhelming" snow totals.
  • Drew admits he gave up on shoveling his driveway as it turned into a block of ice.
  • Matt debates the point of shoveling unless for essential deliveries:
    “Why can’t you just walk through it?” (03:31, Matt)

2. Super Bowl Set: Patriots vs. Seahawks – "Least Compelling" Matchup?

• Hosts’ underwhelmed reactions to the Super Bowl pairing:

  • Matt: “I can't think of a Super Bowl where I find the matchup less compelling, Drew, than this one.” (05:50, Matt)
  • Drew: “On paper, it’s not the logos any of us were counting on seeing... Of all the teams to slide in and take the Chiefs’ spot... it has to be Boston.” (06:11, Drew)
  • Both long for a different AFC or NFC contender to have made it through.

• Lackluster AFC Championship game (Broncos–Patriots):

  • Critique of the matchup’s entertainment value and play quality.

  • Discussion of Jared Stidham’s fast start but costly mistakes:
    “If you're Stidham, you cannot turn that ball over. ...That interception...I think the game was oddly over at halftime.” (07:10–07:40, Matt)

  • Patriots’ offense knocked for “more three and outs than scoring drives in the playoffs.” (09:20, Drew)

• Strength of Patriots’ postseason run debated:

  • Contrarian media takes getting called out:
    “Kay Adams came out and said ...this is the hardest path ever... That made me like her about 1/100th or less because that’s ridiculous.” (09:28, Matt)

• Historical note:

  • First AFC Championship without Mahomes, Brady, or Manning since 1999. (10:46, Matt & Drew)

• Criticism of Snowy, Low-Scoring Game:

  • Tech Snafus: Broadcast tried digital yard markers, making players disappear on screen. (11:30, Drew)
  • Debate over domed stadiums vs. outdoor chaos:
    “The character of sports is the uniqueness of the stadium. ...When there are 20 domes or 25 domes, everyone is going to wish these games were outside.” (17:40, Matt)

3. NFC Championship: Seahawks vs. Rams Recap

• Much more entertaining, especially in the second half:

  • Praise for Sam Darnold’s redemption story and Smith-Njigba’s impact:
    “Gotta give Sam Darnold a ton of credit. ...when everybody had given up on him. ...He’s played really well in Minnesota and then collapsed... Everyone said, ‘See, that’s what Sam Darnold actually is.’ Comes back, does it, and actually meets the goals this year as a 1-seed. ...He deserves to be there.” (24:16–25:39, Matt)

  • Discussion of wide receivers’ importance to QB success.

  • Notable (infamous) moment:

    • Colby Parkinson’s dropped TD:
      “If he catches that, he walks into the end zone.” (26:57, Matt)

  • Refereeing debates:

    • Questionable taunting penalty on Rams called “maybe the worst taunting call in NFL history,” though hosts later agree the player earned it. (27:38–28:16)

  • Seahawks fans’ branding as “The Twelves” — Drew finds it overdone:
    “Everything’s just 12, 12... They were wearing me out with it.” (29:11–30:04, Drew & Matt)

4. Coaching Changes: McCarthy to Steelers, Minter to Ravens

• Mike McCarthy to Steelers:

  • Matt: “He'll now have coached the three most iconic franchises in football—the Steelers, the Packers, and the Cowboys. ...And yet he’s not exactly a legend, and yet he’s the guy.” (41:37–42:24, Matt)
  • Both find the hire odd for a team known for longevity and youth in coaches.

• Jesse Minter to Ravens:

  • Drew: “He was one of the hottest names on the board... but I wonder what the Ravens’ future really looks like with Lamar...” (43:53, Drew)
  • Matt notes the “nerd football writers” love the hire, but he's skeptical, especially given lack of precedent for young defensive coordinators as NFL head coaches lately.

• Joking about 'Jesse' as a coach's name:
  “If you’re going to be a coach, you need to be the E version... Jesse just doesn’t sound like a coach.” (45:32, Matt)

5. Super Bowl Storylines & Halftime Acts

• Lack of traditional journey for both teams:
  “Both these teams come out of nowhere, really. ...I just don’t feel like either of these teams ... it’s going to feel like they’re actually a Super Bowl [champion].” (36:12, Matt)

• Legacy talk: Will this “one-off” championship be memorable like the 2004 Pistons?

• Super Bowl odds:

  • Seahawks as ~4.5-point favorites. Drew likes them to win and cover. (35:43, Drew)

• Halftime/Pre-game: Green Day & Bad Bunny

  • Hosts mock and celebrate the lineup mix for “every generation.”
  • “It’s an odd choice to pick [Green Day], right? ...They’re a punk band and they’re known for ...this graduation song, which I always find sort of odd.” (22:08, Matt)
  • Billy: “I’ve been listening to Bad Bunny in preparation... It’s not bad, for not understanding any of the words.” (23:34–23:38, Billy)

6. Recent & Rumored Coaching Hires

• Rumors: Philip Rivers interviews for Bills job

  • Matt: “I do not think that... the fact that you coached high school makes you (qualified to coach in NFL). Why did Jeff Saturday... work?” (52:29, Matt)

  • Drew admits he’s rooting for it just for the spectacle.

  • Comparison with “Condoleezza Rice interviewing for Browns head coach”—hosts laugh at NFL’s occasional forays into unconventional hires. (50:46–51:08, Matt)

• Owners’ role in legacy:

  • Discussion triggered by Robert Kraft’s return to the Super Bowl. Matt is skeptical about how much credit owners really deserve. (56:02–57:45)

7. Other Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Super Bowl narratives:
  • “This is going to end up being like a title that’s kind of like the Pistons in ’04 ...you’ll go, that just feels weird.” (36:12, Matt)
• On QBs and coaches cast off by other teams:
  • “On one end you have a QB who just got told to kick rocks, the other side you have a coach that just got told to kick rocks.” (37:15, Drew)
• On the trend for domes:
  • “That's what's going to happen with these domes. The character of sports is the uniqueness of the stadium.” (17:40, Matt)
• Pop culture riffs:
  • Long sidetrack on the name “Jesse” as a head coach and classic “Saved by the Bell” references (47:00, Matt & Drew)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Weather and opening banter: 02:14 - 05:00
• Super Bowl matchup reactions: 05:00 - 09:20
• AFC Championship analysis: 07:40 - 14:11
• NFC Championship recap: 24:16 - 30:17
• Debate on domed vs outdoor stadiums: 17:40 - 19:44
• Super Bowl legacy/narrative talk: 36:12 - 40:39
• Coaching carousel (McCarthy, Minter, Rivers): 41:25 - 55:38
• Halftime show / Super Bowl event discussions: 21:58 - 23:48
• Final wrap-up / Super Bowl week plans: 58:20 - 60:29

Notable Quotes

• Matt:
  “The character of sports is the uniqueness of the stadium. ...When there are 20 domes or 25 domes, everyone is going to wish these games were outside.” (17:40)
• Drew:
  “Everything’s just 12, 12... They were wearing me out with it.” (29:11)
• Matt:
  “I think McCarthy’s going to win eight games every year. That’s kind of how I feel, like he’s a little worse Tomlin.” (43:03)
• Billy:
  “I’ve been listening to Bad Bunny in preparation... It’s not bad, for not understanding any of the words.” (23:34)
• Matt:
  “I do not think that... the fact that you coached high school makes you (qualified to coach in NFL). Why did Jeff Saturday... work?” (52:29)

Tone and Style

The show maintains a casual, fun-loving, sometimes sardonic tone. Matt, Drew, and Billy riff with each other, blending dry humor, sports cynicism, and genuine football insight.

For Next Time

• The hosts will broadcast from Super Bowl Radio Row in the next episode and plan to interview NFL legends, emphasizing a departure from their usual non-interview format.

This summary covers major arguments, key storylines, and the recurring laid-back, fan-focused approach of NFL Cover Zero.